Table 2 Characteristics of each article regarding authors, country, year of publication, number of athletes, methodology of the article, strenghths, and limitations of the study
Title | Authors | Country | Year of publication | Number of athletes | Methodology | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Investigating the optimal psychological state for peak performance in Australian elite athletes | Anderson, R., Hanrahan, S.J. & Mallet, C.J | Australia | 2014 | 17 | Semi structured Interview, qualitative | Directly linked "peak performance" with concept of automaticity | Biases due to self-reporting |
Mental and physical attributes defining world-class Norwegian athletes: Content analysis of interviews | Boes, R., Harung,H.S., Travis, F. & Pensgaard, A.F | Norway | 2014 | 28 | Semi structured Interview, qualitative | Mixed methodology Used a control group Broad holistic approach | All inner/outer variables found non-significant |
Mental and physical attributes defining world-class Norwegian athletes: Content analysis of interviews | Burns, L. Weissensteiner, J.R. & Cohen, M | Australia | 2014 | 10 | Semi structured Interview, qualitative | Included paralympic athletes Sample includes only very high performing athlete | Small sample size from different sports Generational differences between athletes |
Dealing with elite sport competition demands: An exploration of the dynamic relationships between stress appraisal, coping, emotion, and performance during fencing matches (studies 1 and 2) | Doron, J. & Martinent, G | France | 2021 | 16 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | Ecological experiment | Simulation Small sample size Single item approach |
Expected and unexpected stressors in major international competition: appraisal, coping, and performance | Dugdale, J.R., Eklund, R.C. & Gordon, S | Australia | 2002 | 91 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire and open-ended questions, mixed methods | Questionnaires administered immediately after competition Questioned a specific event (not a hypothetical) Use of self-reference performance indices | Retrospective study Lack of scientific rigor |
A grounded theory of psychological resilience in Olympic champions | Fletcher, D & Sarkar, M | UK | 2012 | 12 | Semi structured interview, qualitative | Supra elite athletes Theoretical model grounded in original data | Retrospective Uncertain validity of the linear stage model |
Higher psycho-physiological refinement in world-class Norwegian athletes: brain measures of performance capacity | Harung, H.S., Travis, F., Pensgaard, A.F., Boes, R., Cook-Greuter, S. & Daley, K | Norway | 2011 | 33 | EEG, quantitative; Experimental—cross sectional | Rigorously selected control group EEG is an objective measure | EEG during non-specific task – less transferable |
The role of confidence in world class sport performance | Hays, K., Thomas, O., Maynard, I. & Bawden, M | UK | 2009 | 14 | Semi structured interview, qualitative | Strong sample of athletes, level athlete In depth exploration role of confidence | Retrospective study Gender differences in reporting symptoms of anxiety and self- confidence might account for the results |
What makes an orienteer an expert? A case study of a highly elite orienteer's concerns in the course of competition | Macquet, A-C., Eclles, D.W. & Barraux, E | France & USA | 2012 | 1 | Semi structured interview, qualitative (case–control) | Rare study of cognitive activity of expert orienteerer Rare study of an athlete's concerns in relation to entire competitive events Highly elite status athlete with prototypical value Video analysis and interview | Case study No non expert controls Participant asked to comment on activity seen in video film, so excludes input of other senses, inherent to orienteering |
Anxiety characteristics of competitive windsurfers: relationships with age, gender, and performance outcomes | Modroño, C. & Guillen, F | Spain | 2011 | 54 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | Research conducted by sports psychologists | All female sample |
The interplay between emotions, coping, and the performance of Olympic-level athletes | Pensgaard, A.M. &Duda, J.L | UK | 2000 | 61 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | Results similar to previous research | Retrospective Limited response rate Recall bias |
Influence of cognitive interferences and self-talk functions on performance during competition in elite female field hockey players | Pérez-Encinas, C., Fernández-Campos, F.J. & Barrios, J.R.C | Spain | 2016 | 20 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | n/a | Small sample size Retrospective Raking may taint responses |
Mental skill profiles and expertise levels of elite Iranian athletes | Salmela, J. H., Monfared, S. S., Mosayebi, F. & Durand-Bush, N. ( | Islamic Republic of Iran & Canada | 2009 | 214 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | n/a | Specifc to Iranian population |
Pre-performance psychological states and performance in an elite climbing competition | Sanchez, X, Boschker, M.S.J. & Llewellyn, D.J | Denmark | 2010 | 19 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | First ecologically valid study of pre-performance psychological states and performance in elite climbers | Evaluation only of emotional states before the competition Small all-male sample |
Self-efficacy, flow, affect, worry and performance in elite World Cup ski jumping | Sklett, V.H., Lorås, H.W. & Sigmundsson, H | Norway | 2018 | 40 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | n/a | Single competition evaluation No quantitative data collected Scales did not account for important variables like snow conditions and prior injury |
Self-regulation of elite athletes in China | Sun, Y. & Wu, X | China | 2011 | 14 | Semi structured interview, qualitative | n/a | Retrospective Many factors implicated in performance, in relation to suboptimal performance, were not evaluated |
Self-confidence, commitment and goal-setting in Czech athletes at different performance levels | Vičar, M | Czech Republic | 2018 | 63 | Multi-sectioned questionnaire, quantitative | n/a | Lack of power Probable cultural differences in reporting Only used 3/12 of the OMSAT-3 scales |